Not all rogues are created from greed … some are born from desperation.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Jeff Parker
Artist: Ron Randall
Colorist: Veronica Gandini
Letterer: Dave Lamphear
What They Say:
Meet the universe’s most-wanted thieves, the Galaxy Trio! Transformed by a freak accident while training to be space rangers, this trio of cadets has embraced the dark side as they experiment with their new found powers. Can Space Ghost convince them to become the heroes they were destined to be? The fate of the galaxy depends on it!
Content (please note that portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The Korvasu Sphere … rumors of its power to find anything or to locate anyone no matter they may hide are whispered throughout the galaxy and when one came up for sale, it could not be passed up. Galactic heiress Kula Rysuun parted with her orb the right price, but when the unscrupulous buyer decided to use it for erroneous deeds, there was found a need to liberate it from his possession. And if you need a job done right, you hire the best mercenary team composed of Vapor Man, Meteor Man and Gravity Girl – better known as the Galaxy Trio. They easily pacified the corrupt user’s bodyguards and then persuaded him to part with his newly acquired purchase after some heavy negotiations, and now all that was left was to notify their new partner of the successful completion. Once they were finished with noteworthy praise and some minor regrets for not knowing of the shadier underbelly of an open market, the friends decide it is best not to know of such things and instead celebrate – until they remember things best left alone.
While they ponder their next escapade, it is the pain of past mistakes which cause the team to wonder if now is the time for revenge. Memories haunt them of how three young cadets from the Space Force tried to impress their instructor by going after a maniacal genetics genius, only to find themselves captured and the newest test subjects for his latest experiment. However once they were rescued, the damage had been done and no one trusted these misfits after the trauma, fearing even their minds were also transformed by the recombination. It was not for months into their stay at the medi-base did they learn why it took so long to be saved … all of the defenders had been destroyed by an even stronger galactic menace – Omnikron. But as they flash back to the present, all is not well within this respite, for long range sensors have located someone heading at top speed for this location. Within the den of scum and villainy, it can’t be good, can it?
In Summary:
Even if this may be a flashback filler/lead-in for the previous series Future Quest, writer Jeff Parker still manages to give us a gripping story of intrigue and unabashed valor worthy of any redemption tale. While I would have liked to see more of the Galaxy Trio’s escapades from both sides of the law, this brief glimpse does fulfill the lack of background into this dashing team which was never covered within the original Hanna-Barbera animation. I do like how Parker ties all of the Space Force together into one cohesive community, seeding the members with a chance for heroism, even if it is misplaced, and then allowed to bloom at each person’s pace. It is within this incubation period by which even the lost can find their way back to the fold, without knowing it; within this narrative he shows how Vapor Man, Meteor Man and Gravity Girl may have strayed from the path they wanted, but never completely wandered away from the trail, always venturing toward a loftier goal by committing deeds which seemed greed driven, but also cleansed the galaxy of more vile villains. It is these types of saviors who may know how the criminal mind works, but in the end, they use that knowledge for just means. These are the heroes who are truly worthy of compassion and the trust which purer people lack, only motivated by selfish goals of unerring justice; they in error think only the nobly good are those who deserve to survive, even when they themselves are also tarnished, though they are bane to admit it.
This story does not skimp on fulfilling the mythos of classic villainy, with artist Ron Randall stunning us visually and colorist Veronica Gandini emphasizing the overexaggerated movements and environment which make this issue a pleasure to read. You can feel how each page unfolds with pronounced gravitas, setting the stage for the narrative which grows in intensity after every panel. Randall brings back the familiarity of the original Galaxy Trio animation with scenes that bring out the action and powers of each character, not in a cheap way but with a believability which seems natural and worthy of being seen as super powers, even if they did come at a high cost. And yet Gandini grounds the story, not using an overly bright or neon based palette to denote futuristic power, but instead mutes the tones for an organic feeling, allowing for colors to communicate a simplicity which allows the reader to know all actions meld beautifully into the story as a whole. But when a brief respite of nostalgic action is needed toward the end, the pair does not get carried away with implausible scenes which seem misplaced; instead they wonderfully intermingle these exceptions as we close the door on an issue which brings back the glamor of high drama within a veil of hopeful memories.
This is the kind of issue which makes me want to read each character with a classic overly heroic or vile voice, just to add to the drama and nostalgia factor which was gleaned from the original cartoon. The banter between the Galaxy Trio with the cheesy one-liners is another reminder and yet the narrative as a whole has been modernized with a backstory which would have never passed the old censors. With artwork and colors which breath life into this iconic team, in the end I wish there was more and yet the end fills us with hope there will be a continuation since their presence was lacking within the original story.
Grade: A
Rating: T (Teen)
Released By: DC Comics
Release Date: November 15, 2017
MSRP: $3.99
